Overview

Slovak life expectancy has bounced back from a drop during the COVID-19 pandemic, while behavioural risk factors pose large risks to the general population health profile

Average life expectancy at birth in Slovakia increased by more than 4 years between 2000 and 2019 before falling by 3 years to 74.6 years in 2021 and then rebounding to 78 years in 2023. The rise in life expectancy was partially facilitated by a decrease in mortality rates, particularly for diseases of the circulatory system, though they remain the leading cause of mortality in Slovakia and accounted for 43% of all deaths in 2022. Dietary risks, alcohol and tobacco consumption have a strong influence on the health of the population, and it is estimated that nearly one third of total mortality resulted from behavioural risk factors.

The Ministry of Health is the main steward of the Slovak health system; health insurance companies and regional authorities also have key roles

The health system in Slovakia is based on universal coverage, social health insurance and a competitive insurance model with selective contracting of health care providers and flexible pricing of services. Health insurance companies collect, pool and redistribute resources, and purchase health care services. The Health Care Surveillance Authority monitors the health insurance market, while the Ministry of Health is responsible for policy-making, regulation and quality standards

Health system financing comes largely from public sources, though OOP payments comprise around one fifth of all spending and primarily impact low-income residents

Slovakia’s health system is predominantly funded through mandatory health insurance contributions collected from the economically active population. Public spending on health was estimated at 8.3% of GDP in 2024, but OOP payments are relatively high, accounting for an estimated 18.7% of current health expenditure in 2023. This financial burden disproportionately affects low-income households, impacting health care access and equity.

Ongoing reforms deal with making financing more sustainable over the long term as well as optimizing care networks

Financial sustainability and cost-containment policies have resulted from hard budgetary constraints to improve resource allocation and reduce public spending deficits. The implementation of managed entry agreements for pharmaceuticals and centralized procurement of medical equipment to optimize costs furthered this. Additionally, the optimization of health care networks, reduction of waiting times and better integration of long-term care services with health and social care systems are underway. The 2021 hospital reform introduced a new classification system to ensure timely access to scheduled care, with implementation proceeding in 2025.